Bolton 1-2 Charlton - Match Report Post #15

wanderlust

Nat Lofthouse

Posts : 13481Join date : 2012-01-12

Saturday could be a season-defining game for BWFC as we're likely to find out if our recent results were just a blip or not. Sheff U have opened the door for an automatic promotion spot if we win our games in hand but it's a big ask to win all 3 starting with the Addicks on Saturday.Charlton's recent form has been decent - they haven't lost since mid December and like us, had the day off last Saturday so they are rested. They also have Karl Robinson shaking up their dressing room nowadays.Our form has been less impressive lately having lost 2 and drawn 2 of our last 4 games albeit with two of those games being against Palace so we need a quick return to winning ways.Unfortunately I think it will be a draw, but I'm hoping the lads find some inspiration from somewhere and win it.

karlypants

1. Back in action!After last weekend's trip to Southend United was called off because of a frozen pitch, it's a welcome return to Sky Bet League One action on Saturday as Wanderers host Charlton Athletic.

Boasting three games in hand on league-leaders Sheffield United, the clash with the Addicks marks only the Whites' third league outing of the calendar year courtesy of their Emirates FA Cup exploits against Crystal Palace.

With attentions now firmly focused on the league, Phil Parkinson's men will be hungry to make up for lost time as they look to maintain their promotion charge.

2. First win of 2017?Having twice battled Premier League Crystal Palace in the Emirates FA Cup in recent weeks, Bolton will be going in search of their first win of 2017 against Charlton.

Scoring a last-minute equaliser to earn a point away at Coventry City in their first outing of the calendar year, the shoe was on the other foot as the Trotters fell to a late home defeat against Swindon Town two weeks ago.

And while no-one is panicking around BL6 with confidence in the Wanderers camp high, the Whites will be hungry to claim their first three points of the year this weekend.

3. James HenryCementing his place in Bolton's starting XI in recent weeks after extending his loan stint at Macron Stadium, James Henry has been in fine form since the turn of the year.

Scoring what could prove to be a crucial last-minute winner at home to Scunthorpe United on New Year's Eve, the winger also fired home an outstanding strike against Crystal Palace last week to give the Trotters the lead.

Unfortunate not to have netted more having also hit the woodwork on numerous occasions, Henry looks set to again be a key player for Wanderers this weekend.

4. Home comfortsReturning to Macron Stadium for the first time since their seven-game home winning run in the league was ended by Swindon Town, the Whites will be hopeful of reinstating BL6's fortress status on Saturday.

Bolton have lost just twice in front of their fans in the league so far this season, and have enjoyed some of their most memorable results of the season at home having seen off the likes of promotion-challengers Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United.

With tickets on sale for just £23, make sure to get down to Macron Stadium, be loud, be proud and back the boys!

5. Parky's former clubAdding an extra element to proceedings this weekend, Trotters boss Phil Parkinson will be facing his former side having left The Valley in January 2011.

Initially serving as Alan Pardew's assistant manager at Charlton, the Wanderers gaffer replaced him as caretaker manager in November 2008.

Handed the job permanently the following month, he spent just over two seasons in the Valley hotseat, and will no doubt enjoy the possibility of the Whites building on their positive season so far against his former employers.

karlypants

Report: Bolton 1-2 Charlton Athletic

Wanderers slipped to defeat against ten-man Charlton at Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Bolton opened the scoring in style with 13 minutes on the clock as, following Lewis Page’s dismissal for the visitors, Zach Clough curled home a free-kick from 20 yards.

The Addicks were level halfway through the first period however, with Patrick Bauer nodding home a free-kick from close range, before Nathan Byrne put them in front on the stroke of half time - a goal which proved decisive come the end of the game.

TEAM NEWS

Wanderers’ starting XI was unchanged from the side who started against Crystal Palace last time out, while Conor Wilkinson took his place on the substitutes’ bench in place of Chris Taylor.

FIRST HALF

Wanderers started the game with gusto, with the Addicks under pressure from the outset as Bolton looked for the perfect opening period.

The visitors were struggling to get out of their own half for the most part inside the first five minutes or so, but Tony Watt was proving himself a threat on their rare forays into the final third.

The first real chance of the game meanwhile fell to the visitors, but Jake Forster-Caskey’s long range piledriver was comfortably smothered by Ben Alnwick.

With 11 minutes on the clock though, Wanderers were handed a boost as Lewis Page was dismissed for bringing down Josh Vela with the academy graduate in on goal.

And the Whites certainly capitalised in perfect fashion, with Clough curling home the resulting free-kick past a helpless Declan Rudd in the Charlton goal.

Clough almost doubled his tally just short of the 20 minute mark after collecting a beautiful knock-down in the area from Andrew Taylor, but the academy graduate’s volley somehow eluded the goalmouth with Macron Stadium ready to celebrate once again.

Out of nowhere however, the Addicks were level as Bauer nodded home Forster-Caskey’s free-kick to stun those inside the ground.

Bolton’s lead was nearly restored in fortuitous circumstances with 25 minutes gone as Taylor’s cross was deflected onto the crossbar, but the woodwork ultimately spared the London outfit’s blushes and ensured that the scores remained level.

Wanderers then found themselves under a period of pressure from the ten men of Charlton, with the Addicks looking to notch a second of the game against the odds.

Watt in particular was causing problems for the Bolton backline with the striker winning a succession of free-kicks in dangerous positions.

Jay Spearing meanwhile tried his luck from all of 30 yards with seven minutes of the half remaining, with Rudd parrying his effort and Ezri Konsa clearing Charlton’s lines.

Frustration was evident for Wanderers as the half drew to its conclusion, but it got worse on the stroke of half time at Byrne capitalised on Bolton throwing men forward with him given acres of space to slot home past Alnwick and ensure that Charlton went in at the break ahead.

SECOND HALF

Wanderers made one change at half time, with Max Clayton coming into the fray in place of Thorpe.

And Bolton were the team who looked to make their mark from the off, with Charlton under pressure early on as the Whites looked to level the scores as soon as possible.

Clayton was certainly making a difference too, with the forward involved in a number of chances for the Trotters inside the opening stages of the second period.

Charlton could barely get out of their own box, let alone their own half, with Bolton constantly throwing men forward in a bid to force a leveller.

Rudd wasn’t being tested too much however, with most of Bolton’s opportunities falling kindly for the Addicks keeper.

Frustration was clear to see for the Whites, and with 20 minutes remaining Conor Wilkinson was thrown into the mix to add further firepower to Wanderers’ cause.

Charlton’s stubbornness was stunting the flow of the game, with Bolton struggling to break down the ten-man wall in front of their goal.

With the game reaching its last ten minutes, both Clough and Wilkinson tried their luck from inside the box, only to be denied by Rudd.

It was at this point too that Bolton made their final change, with Jamie Proctor introduced in place of Beevers as the Whites went all out in attack.

With the full time whistle looming, it was all hands to the pump for Wanderers with a succession of crosses into the box ultimately going to waste.

Four minutes of additional time were indicated and Bolton were left screaming for a penalty kick following a melee in the area, while Madine smashed a volley agonisingly wide.

Ultimately however, their efforts were in vain come the final whistle.

doffcocker

"I'm not convinced by Parkinson as a tactician, I think maybe if you take Clough and/or Ameobi out of this team things would look a lot different.

I know Madine is doing a good job with his knock/chest downs - and a few others are playing well - but I think all that amounts to very little without the quality those two players bring. They're the ones that actually make things happen, even if they are having an off day. Before this run they've both had in the team we never looked remotely like scoring."

That was me a few weeks ago, and despite Whittam being a fat douchebag and slating me as usual, I'm looking more and more correct.

Let's not downplay it, losing at home to Swindon was poor, but losing to 10 man Charlton is horrific, and just shows how much Parkinson's game plans leave to be desired.

It was obvious from the minute Clough scored what the strategy was. Oh yes, let's just pass it round willy-nilly, they're bound to just get knackered and give up. Well look how that one turned out.

I really think we'd have been in with a chance of the play-offs - at least with Ameobi in the squad - but when all you can do with 20 minutes left needing a goal is bring on Connor Wilkinson (thought he'd be playing for a pub team by now), you know it's bad news.

Natasha Whittam

Nat Lofthouse

Posts : 27484Join date : 2012-01-04Age : 33

What a load of utter shite. We could still get relegated, 50 points might not be enough.

While I accept we are skint and the squad is full of crap, Parkinson still has to get the best out of what he has. And he doesn't. We just looked like we couldn't be arsed today, it was a performance straight out of last season.

Derek needs to play. Defence or midfield, I don't care.

And if possible we need to sign a right winger and a centre forward this week. The re-signing of Henry was clearly a huge mistake.

rammywhite

El Hadji Diouf

Posts : 2745Join date : 2012-05-18Age : 68Location : Ramsbottom

Tactically inept today. As usual no urgency until the last 10 minutes. Up until then it was far too much passing either back or sideways. The single moment of quality was Clough's goal. Everything else stood out as sheer mediocrity. No guile, no pressure on their defence, almost every player out of sorts today.At one stage he had Proctor ,Madine, Wilkinson and Clayton on- four supposed strikers and they were all an embarrassment.An automatic promotion slot is getting more and more out of the question unless he can find some impetus going forward and the embargo is likely to make sure that that won't happen.The reality is that a playoff place is the best that we can hope for and that may be as 5th or 6th as other mighty clubs (like Fleetwood) show us how to win.I'll nail my colours to the mast- Madine, despite the praise heaped on him is just a carthorse. A corpse could mark him out the game. He wins nothing constructive for us and is as big a waste of a shirt as Heskey was under Lennon.Today was a disaster- and every League 1 manager will know that we are not a force to be reckoned with. If you want a point against BWFC just put 9 men behind the ball as they're impotent.

terenceanne

El Hadji Diouf

Posts : 2259Join date : 2012-04-17Location : Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Likely to slide down the table now I'm afraid to say. The combination of the embargo and the honeymoon period for Parky being over. As Rammy says above the urgency didn't start till 10 minutes left on the clock. Why not go after them immediately after their player went off.....piling on the pressure then etc.If results go against us next weekend we could be 5th come next Saturday night.The is blame all around but the fact that KA has still not filed that paperwork is a big part of it IMO.

wanderlust

Nat Lofthouse

Posts : 13481Join date : 2012-01-12

We simply aren't going to get a prolific striker in these circumstances so Parky needs to look at alternative solutions such as changing his system and/or selection. As Keshi Anderson showed yesterday, play him the right way and he will score - always has, always will.Whilst we had the best defence in all divisions earlier in the season, it was acceptable to play the Parky way because we were keeping clean sheets and minimising opportunities for the opposition, however it also limited our attacking options. It's fine to sit deep if the midfield has the legs and pace to counterattack quickly and effectively but ours doesn't so we are always up against a packed defence when we do get forward and although we can keep possession it all grinds to a halt at the edge of their box.Now we are conceding goals and I suspect Parky's instinct is set up even more defensively rather than look to push back, so perhaps we can get by with a load of narrow wins and draws, but I'd much rather see some pace and spark up front rather than aiming for the target man all the time. Seems to me that Vela is the one who bombs on and I'd play him and Clayton and someone who can finish like Samizadeh rather than Clough and Madine holding it up short of the goal whilst the opposition defence files back and gets organised. Maybe I'm clutching at straws but something needs to change and the ball's in Parky's court IMO.

rammywhite

El Hadji Diouf

Posts : 2745Join date : 2012-05-18Age : 68Location : Ramsbottom

wanderlust wrote:We simply aren't going to get a prolific striker in these circumstances so Parky needs to look at alternative solutions such as changing his system and/or selection. As Keshi Anderson showed yesterday, play him the right way and he will score - always has, always will.Whilst we had the best defence in all divisions earlier in the season, it was acceptable to play the Parky way because we were keeping clean sheets and minimising opportunities for the opposition, however it also limited our attacking options. It's fine to sit deep if the midfield has the legs and pace to counterattack quickly and effectively but ours doesn't so we are always up against a packed defence when we do get forward and although we can keep possession it all grinds to a halt at the edge of their box.Now we are conceding goals and I suspect Parky's instinct is set up even more defensively rather than look to push back, so perhaps we can get by with a load of narrow wins and draws, but I'd much rather see some pace and spark up front rather than aiming for the target man all the time. Seems to me that Vela is the one who bombs on and I'd play him and Clayton and someone who can finish like Samizadeh rather than Clough and Madine holding it up short of the goal whilst the opposition defence files back and gets organised. Maybe I'm clutching at straws but something needs to change and the ball's in Parky's court IMO.

I think you're right- there is no chance of bringing anyone in who will be a prolific striker- so its a matter of maximising what he's got. That demands a change in tactics -like using Samizadeh from now on and letting Vela and Clough pay closer to him down the centre. I think its now the time that Parkinson can show whether he can change his approach to utilise the resources that he's got better. It's time he showed his mettle.its abundantly clear that the current strike force is bereft of ideas ( and, in my opinion, skill as well) and so something needs to give. The shape needs to be changed also to let Osede sit in front of the back four with Spearing playing 10 yards further forward.that should provide some protection to the back four who I think are still solid enough.But Parky MUST try something different ,or else we will simply spiral downwards again as we have season after season for years.